JOE ROBBIE CONTROVERSY TO BE HEARD

TALLAHASSEE -- A dispute that pits Broward against Dade County in a battle over traffic around Joe Robbie Stadium will be aired in a state administrative hearing.

Gov. Bob Martinez and the Cabinet on Tuesday referred the issue to the Division of Administrative Hearings for assignment to a hearing officer. No date has yet been set for the hearing.

The debate was prompted by the Metro-Dade Commission's decision to let Robbie occupy the stadium without improving nearby roads around the stadium, which is just south of the Broward County line.

The South Florida Regional Planning Council in February appealed the commission's decision. Last month, Broward County and Miramar joined the planning council in the appeal.

Traffic congestion sparked complaints from residents near the stadium, who contend Robbie had promised not to seek a certificate of occupancy until the roads were improved.

Robbie has yet to obtain such a certificate but has been using the stadium since last fall. Dade County officials have declined to penalize the developer for not having the certificate and have extended the deadline for those improvements.